Combination ladder stool



D. GREENE COMBINATION LADDER STOOL March 23, 1948.

Filed June '21, 1945 INVENTOR flAv/a 6/755:

. ATTORN Y Patented Mar. 23, 1948 OFFICE COMBINATION LADDER STOOL David Greene, Brooklyn, N. Auto Products Corpor corporation of New Yor ation,

Y., assignor to Esmco Brooklyn, N. Y., a

Application June 21, 1945, Serial No. 300,702

'7 Claims. (01. 155-42) This invention relates to what are generally known as ladder stools. More particularly, the invention deals with a structure of this type and kind, wherein one step of the ladder comprises an L-shaped step frame slidably engaging the leg portion of the stool and, wherein, the stool includes a lift-top adapted to form a backrest for the seat of the stool and to automatically advance the step to operative position.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of theviews and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a stool structure made according to my invention with part of the construction broken away and showing parts in extended position in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear edge View of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The stool, in the construction shown, comprises a main seat I having a pair of U-shaped leg frames II, II' which may be of tubular construction to minimize the weight of the stool and these frames are bolted or otherwise secured, as indicated at I2. The lower ends of the frame II, II terminate in rubber feet I3 to retain the stool against accidental displacement, particularly on a smooth surface, as well as to protect a surface on which the stool is arranged. Secured to the inner surface of the legs of the frames I I, II' and bridging the rear leg members of these frames is a horizontal reinforcing member sides I 5, I5 of the member cross-sectional form back to at I6 in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Beyond the channel structure, the member I5 is of angle-iron cross-sectional form. The channels I5, I5 form supports and guides for an L-shaped step member I1, which comprises a step-board I8 and a pair of L-shaped leg members I9, I9 secured to the board I8 by bolts, as seen at 20, and braced adjacent their lower ends by a brace rod 2|, note Fig. 1. It is here to be noted that the forward leg members of the frames II, II' are also joined and braced by a rod 22, which is slightly offset in order to bring the legs I9 within a fully collapsed position within the front members of the leg frames I I, II', as illustrated in the full line posi- I4 are of channel a point, indicated I 4. Opposed tion of Fig. 1. At the lowerends of the leg members I9, -I9'- are preferably disposed domes-ofsilence 23 or other similar antifrictional ends providing a free movement of the legs I9, l9 over a supporting surface.

Arranged upon and normally disposed over the main seat I0 is a supplemental seat 24 which also serves as a backrest when the latter is in raised position. The seat 24 is hinged to the seat I I], as seen at 25, a pair of hinges being employed and spaced along the rear edge of the seat Ill, the hinge being countersunk in the seat I0, as well as in the seat 24. The upper surface of the seat I0 has on its forward edge cushioned bumpers 26 to support the seat 24 in spaced parallel relationship to the seat I 0 and above a tread surface of rubber or other material 21 on the top of the seat I0. Here it is to be noted that the step board I8 has a similar tread surface 28 of cushioned rubber.

The rear edge of the seat 24 has a socket 29 for receiving a substantially U-shaped bracket 30 supporting a pivot pin 3| forming a pivotal coupling for a substantially L-shaped lever 32.

Secured to the lower surface of the seat It] substantially centrally of the sides thereof and adjacent the rear portion of the seat is a U-shaped bracket 33, to which is pivoted an arm lower end of which is pivotally coupled to a link 35 pivoted to a bracket 36 on the step board I8 similar to the bracket 33.

The lever 32 is pivoted to the arm 34 adjacent the upper end thereof, as seen at 31. This construction is such that, in the normal collapsed position of the stool, the lever 32, arm 34 and link 35, are all contained within the outer boundaries of the stool structure, including the supplemental top 24 thereof. In this position, the step member I1 is also substantially within these boundaries.

It will thus be'seen that, in raising the supplemental seat 24 into its perpendicular backrest position, partially indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, the lever 32 will actuate the arm 34 and the link 35 will automatically advance the step member I! forwardly into a position substantially similar to that shown in dot. and dash lines in Fig. 1. In like manner, again lowering the supplemental seat 24 will retract the step member II.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the supplemental seat 24 is of greater width than the seat III. Secured to the lower surface of the seat 24, at opposed sides and forwardly of the hinges 25, are brackets 38, 38 and to these brackets are pivoted brace and lock links 39, 39' having knob or'finger-piece ends 40, 40'. The

34, the

only maintain the backrest in the raised position against accidental lowering,

but also to support the step member I! permanently in its extended.

position. Thus, in the foot to the step member llfthis' step cannot be forced inwardly in the channels. In order to lower the backrest, the two side links39, 39must operationof applying the 1 member whereby movement tend the step member 4 having channelled side portions, a step member slidably engaging said channelled side portions, said step member having substantially L-shaped leg portions, a supplemental seat normally arranged over and hingedly coupled with the main seat, a lever pivoted to the supplemental seat, an

arm pivoted to and extending downwardly from the main seat to which said lever is pivoted, a link pivotally coupled with said step member and with the end of said arm providing linkage coupling between the supplemental seat and the step of the supplemental seat into raised position will automatically exforwardly with respect to the leg" frames, and means bracing the supplemental seat in its raised position and checking inward movement or the step member.

be raised through the medium of the knobs or supplemental l8 drawn finger-pieces 40, 40' and then the seat 24 may be lowered and the step inwardly.

In referring to the step member ll above, reference is, of course, had to the complete step frame I'Las the legs I9, l9 move in unison with the step.

It will be understood'that, in one use of the chair or stool construction, the same may be used as a stool, with the parts in the full line position, in which event, the supplemental seat 24 becomes the primary seat of the stool. 'On the other hand, in movingthe parts into the'dotted line position, the device may be simply used as a seat, in which event the member 24 becomes a backrest and the step member l1 becomes a footrest. I a e In this latter position; the device becomes 'a step ladder, where the member l1 becomes the first treadle or step of the ladder and the main seat member 80 becomes the second step of the ladder. In this use, the supplemental seat 24, in its backrest position, forms a stop limiting movement of the feet on-the step. This prevents overstepping and produces a guard in this respect. The raised supplemental seat may be'also used as a support for articles or tools in the use of the ladder.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will appear that the step l8 extends, in its closed position, to substantially the full length of the channels l5, [5, as partially seen at 18' in said figure, thus when the step member l! is in its extended position, a firm support of this member in the chair or stool-frame is maintained in addgtirlm to the support contributed by the legs I 9f.

It will be understood that, by keeping all of the operative parts of the stool or chair structure within the outer. boundaries of the frames H, H and the larger area of the supplemental top member 24, a very. simple packaging'of the structure is accomplished for shipment and trans 2. A chair of the class described comprising two U-shaped leg frames, a main seat joining and spacing upper ends of said frame. a reinforcing U-shaped frame bridging the leg members of the leg frames and joining two leg members of each leg frame, said reinforcin frame having channelledside portions, a step member slidably engaging said channelled side'portions, said step ranged over andhingedly coupled with. the main seat, a lever pivoted to thesupplemental seat, an

. link pivotally coupled with said step member portation and also in the storage of the stool in the home. Further, by centralizing the link and lever coupling, an even and balanced action is provided between the supplemental top 24 and the step member ll.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

l. A chair of the class described comprising two U-shaped leg frames, a main seat joining and spacing upper ends of said frames, a reinforcing U-shaped frame bridging-the leg members of the leg frames and joining twoleg mem'- bers of each leg frame, said reinforcing frame and with the end of said arm providing linkage coupling between the supplemental seat and the step member whereby movement of the supplemental seat into raised position will automatically extend the step member forwardly with respect to the leg frames, means bracing the supplemental seat in its raised position and checking inward movement of the step member, and said! last named means comprising alock link pivoted to the supplemental seat andhaving a sliding pivotal. coupling with the mainseat.

3. A chair of the class described comprising two U-shaped leg frames, a main seat joining and spacing upper endsof said frames, a reinforcing U-shaped frame bridging the leg members of the leg frames and joining two leg members of each leg frame, said reinforcingframe having channelled side portions, a step member slidably engaging said channeled sideportions, said step member having substantially L-shaped leg portions, a supplemental seat normally arranged over and hingedly coupledwith the main seat, a lever pivoted to-thesupplemental seat, an arm pivoted to and extending downwardly from the main seat to which said lever is pivoted, alink pivotally coupled with said step member and with the end of said arm providing linkage coupling between the supplemental seat and the step member whereby movement of the supplemental seat into raised position will automatically extendthe step. member forwardly with respect to the leg frames, means bracing the supplemental seat in its raised position and checking inward movement of the stepmembensaid last named means comprising a lock link pivoted to the supplemental seat and having a slidingpivotal coupling with the main seat, the supplemental seat being of greater width than the main seat, saidlock link being disposed within the'boundaries ofthe'supplemental seat and disposed upon the outer side edge of themain seat, said main seat and step member having tread members with roughened surfaces, means bracing the front leg members member having substantially L-shaped. leg portions, a supplemental seat normally arof the leg frames adjacent the lower ends thereof, and said last named means comprising an inwardly ofi'set bar forming a recess for the reception of the legs of the step member in nesting the step member and legs thereof within the bounds of the chair frame.

4. In combination stool ladders of the class described, a stool frame, opposed channels in said frame, a step member slidably engaging said channels, said step member including leg portions having domed lower ends for sliding over the surface of a support, means movably supported on the stool frame and coupled with said step member for moving the step member into extended and contracted positions in the stool frame, and said means including means for retaining the step member against accidental displacement when in extended position.

5. In combination stool ladders of the class described, a stool frame, opposed channels in said frame, a step member slidably engaging said channels, said step member including leg portions having domed lower ends for sliding over the surface of a support, means movably supported on the stool frame and coupled with said step member for moving the step member into extended and contracted positions in the stool frame, said means including means for retaining the step member against accidental displacement when in extended position, and means providing a com- Dlete nesting of the step member including the legs thereof within the boundaries of the stool frame.

6. A combination stool and step ladder comprising a stool frame consisting of leg members and a top main seat, means slidably supporting a step member in the frame to nest within the bounds of the frame and adapted for extension forwardly of the lower portion of the frame, a mechanism for moving the step member into extended and collapsed positions comprising a link member arranged within the frame and pivoted to the main seat and to said step member, a supplemental seat member swingably coupled with the main seat member, and a link coupling said supplemental seat member with said link member to automatically extend the step member in moving the supplemental seat into raised position.

'7. A combination stool and step ladder comprising a stool frame consisting of leg members and a top main seat, means slidably supporting a step member in the frame to nest within the bounds of the frame and adapted for extension forwardly of the lower portion of the frame, a mechanism for moving the step member into extended and collapsed positions comprising a link member arranged within the frame and pivoted to the main seat and to said step member, a. supplemental seat member swingably coupled with the main seat member, a link coupling said supplemental seat member with said link member to automatically extend the step member in moving the supplemental seat into raised position, means for bracing the supplemental seat member in raised position, and said last named means including means for retaining the step member in extended position.

DAVID GREENE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

